Etymology

traffic island

traf·fic is·land

Today it means: A raised or otherwise marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded, so as to direct the traffic flow and provide a safe place for pedestrians to wait while crossing the road. Full definition →

First used early 20th c.
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The story

From traffic (noun) + island (noun).

First known use, by meaning

  • from early 20th c. A raised or otherwise marked area in a roadway from which traffic is excluded, so as to direct the traffic flow and provide a safe place for pedestrians to wait while crossing the road.
  • from late 19th c. An area where rail traffic is low.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.